Japan Launched Consultation on PFAS Control

A one-month public consultation launched by the Japan's Ministry of the Environment, etc.(環境省大臣官房環境保健部, 環境保健企画管理課, 化学物質審査室) ended on 11 March 2024.

Title of the consultation was “Amendment to a part of the matters to be indicated on the container, packaging, or invoice of a product containing PFOS or its salts or PFOA or its salts in the Supplementary Provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Enforcement Order of the Act on the Evaluation and Regulation of Manufacturing of Chemical Substances or PFOA or its salts in which PFOS or its salts are used”.

New Eu Regulation for Toy Safety Proposed Amendments to the Cabinet Order 

Both PFOS and PFOA are already Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances in Japan under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL).

In the proposed amendments, a substantial change is to further designate the following chemical (PFHxS and its salts) as a “Class 1 Specified Chemical Substance”:

Perfluoro(hexane-1-sulfonic acid) (PFHxS) or perfluoro(alkanesulfonic acid) or salts thereof (referred to as “PFHxS or its isomers or salts thereof”).

Japan' s Guideline on Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances 

On 7 March 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued a guidance document in English titled “Import Clearance Procedures for Chemical Substances Related to the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances”.

Regarding the import ban on specific products containing “Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances”, it is explained in the document as follows:

“In the case of importing class 1 specified chemical substances for testing and research purposes, the form 1 document which confirms the purpose shall be submitted at the import declaration. Moreover, a copy of the document can be applicable for submission”.

 
References

https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/Public?CLASSNAME-=PCMMSTDETAIL&id=195230081&Mode=0

https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/PcmFileDownload?seqNo=0000268631

https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/chemical_management/kasinhou/todoke/import_notice_240307.pdf